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The Memory of the World (MoW) programme is an initiative by UNESCO that aims to preserve and promote the world’s documentary heritage. Sri Lanka is an important part of this programme. Sri Lanka related several key documents and collections inscribed on the Memory of the World Register under the Asia and the Pacific region. These documents highlight Sri Lanka’s rich history, culture, and its connections with the wider world.
There are some significant heritage documents and collections from Sri Lanka. They are featured in the Memory of the World Register. The list is below with inscribed year:
The Archives of the Dutch East India Company is a collection of records that document the activities of the Dutch East India Company (VOC) during its presence in Asia. The archives cover a wide range of regions including Sri Lanka, India, Indonesia, the Netherlands, and South Africa. The Dutch East India Company played a significant role in Sri Lanka’s colonial history, particularly during the 17th and 18th centuries.
These archives include letters, maps, and official records that reveal important details about trade, administration, and social life in Sri Lanka under Dutch rule. The records offer a glimpse into the political and economic interactions between Sri Lanka and other parts of the world during this period.
The Indian Ocean Tsunami Archives focus on the devastating tsunami that struck the Indian Ocean region on December 26, 2004. This collection includes photographs, reports, personal accounts, and scientific data related to the tsunami and its aftermath. It helps preserve the memory of the tragedy and the resilience of the affected communities, including those in Sri Lanka.
The archives are valuable for understanding the global impact of the tsunami and how it affected various countries in the Indian Ocean region, including Sri Lanka. It also highlights the international response and the efforts made for disaster management and recovery.
The Mahavamsa is one of Sri Lanka’s most important historical and cultural documents. It is a long chronicle that covers the history of Sri Lanka from the 6th century BCE to 1815 CE. The Mahavamsa provides detailed accounts of the island’s kings, important events, religious history, and the spread of Buddhism.
This collection of palm leaf manuscripts is a key document for understanding Sri Lanka’s ancient history and culture. The Mahavamsa not only offers insights into the history of Sri Lanka but also into the spiritual and social life of its people. The manuscripts are written in Sinhala. The manuscripts are considered a national treasure of Sri Lanka.
The Trilingual Inscription, also known as the Galle Trilingual Inscription, is a famous stone tablet with inscriptions in three languages: Chinese, Tamil, and Persian. The inscription is dated to February 15, 1409, and was installed by the Chinese admiral Zheng He during one of his voyages to Sri Lanka.
This inscription was located in Galle, a coastal city in Sri Lanka, and it marks the offerings made by Zheng He and others to the sacred mountain Adam’s Peak. The text of the inscription is important for its representation of religious diversity and international trade during the period. The Chinese inscription mentions offerings to Buddha, the Persian inscription refers to offerings to Allah, and the Tamil inscription speaks of offerings to the Hindu god Vishnu.
The Trilingual Inscription was discovered in Galle in 1911. It is considered one of the most important documents linking Sri Lanka to the wider world during the 15th century. It is a symbol of the peaceful coexistence of different cultures and religions in the region.
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